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Copyright, 1912. by A. J. Robinson J 

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jHemorantium anb ^netbotesi of tf)e 
Cibil Mar. 



1862 to 1865 




By ARTHUR J. ROBINSON 
A Private, Co. E, 33d Reg. Wis. Vols. 



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FACSIMILE OF DISCHARGE 
Arthur J. Robinson, Co. E, C3d Reg. Wis. Vols. 



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ARTHUR J. ROBINSON 
A Private. Co. E, 33d Reg. Wis. Vols. 



THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. 

Remarks at the Dedication of the National Cemetery 
at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863. 

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought 
forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in 
liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men 
are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing 
whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and 
so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a 
great battlefield of that war. We have come to 
dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place 
for those who here gave their lives that that nation 
might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that 
we should do this. 

But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we can- 
not consecrate, we c'annot hallow, this ground. The 
brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have 
consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. 
The world will little note nor long remember what 
we say here, but it can never forget what they did 
here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated 
here to the unfinished work which they who fought 
here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather 
for us to be here dedicated to the great task remain- 
ing before us — that from these honored dead we 
take increased devotion to that cause for which they 
gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here 
highly resolve that these dead shall not have died 
in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a 
new birth of freedom, and that government of the 
people, by the people and for the people shall not 
perish from the earth. 



PREFACE. 



Dear Readers: In writing this little book, I have endeavored to 
make it as interesting as possible without any false coloring. It is 
made up from memoranda that I kept during my service of three 
years- in the Civil War, and is an accurate description of the marches 
and campaigns in which I was a participant. 

I have enlarged from memory, brought vividly to mind in perusing 
my memoranda, and have related anecdotes that actually came under 
my observation. I now submit it to your perusal, hoping that it may 
meet with your approbation. I am, 

Most respectfully yours, 
ARTHUR J. ROBINSON, 
Co. E, 33d Regt., Wis. Vols. 



BIOGRAPHY OF BOYHOOD DAYS. 

On the morning of the 25th of March, 1845, I was ushered into 
this world, as I have often been informed by my dear mother, who 
ought to know, and in Avhom I have always had great confidence and 
respect. It was a cold, blustering March morning. Father had started 
out for the doctor, first going to a near neighbor's, a Mrs. Osburn, and 
procuring her service antil he should return. The doctor lived in the 
village of Black River, Wood County, Ohio, a distance of about four 
miles, which distance father had to walk, making a delay of several 
hours in his return. 

On father's return, accompanied by the doctor, I was presented to 
my father by Mrs. Osburn with the ejaculation, "Nort, it's a bey!" 
"Well, there was considerable confusion and bustle for several minutes. 
I was weighed v/ith the old-fashioned balance and broke the beam at 
eight pounds avoirdupois. 

The doctor had attended to my mother, matters had quieted down 
to normal conditions, and I, the first born, a boy, was peacefully slum- 
bering on my dear mother's breast. The doctor had taken his depar- 
ture for the village and announced my arrival to the editor of the 
Black River Eagle, and the news was heralded to its readers: "Born — 
A boy, to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Norton Robinson. Father and mother 
both doing well." I was a healthy, hardy lad at eight years, when 
father concluded to move to Sevill, Medina County, Ohio, where father 
worked at his trade as a carpenter and I was entered at school. 

In the intervening years there were two brothers born, Hiram N., 
two years younger than I, and Edgar L., five years my junior. With 
three healthy, hearty lads, mother was taxed to her full strength and 
was failing in health, and father was forced to seek another climate for 
the benefit of mother and place his boys where they could assist him in 
the struggle for the support of his family. In March, 1855, we moved 
to Wisconsin, first locating at Hartford, where we remained one year, 
then moved to Orfordville. Rock County, where we lived continuously 
until the breaking out of the Civil War. 

Mother had improved in health and there had been two other addi- 
tions to the family — two sisters, Estella, born 1857, and Lottie, born 
1859. Father had rented a farm in the spring of 1857, and I, a boy 
of 13 years of age, was made a full hand and did the greater part of 
the spring work, while father worked at his trade. We followed farm- 
ing until the spring of 1859, when I was hired out to a Mr. Lamont on a 
farm and father worked at his trade. We worked until the spring of 
1861, when the war agitation was rife and the country enthused with 
patriotism. In April, 1861, father enlisted in the 7th Wisconsin Volun- 
teers, of which regiment his brother, W. W. Robinson, was lieutenant- 
colonel, and father was appointed quartermaster sergeant. Father 



remained with his regiment until May, 1862, when he was sent home on 
recruiting service, after being ruptured by a fall from his horse at the 
battle of Bull Run. He remained in Wisconsin until about the middle 
of June, when he returned to his regiment, and in July was discharged 
for disability and returned home. I, the eldest son, had been the main- 
stay of the family during father's absence in the army. Brother Hiram 
had caused mother considerable anxiety, and in July had run away 
and enlisted. He was then only 14 years old, but large for his age. 
He had declared his age to be 18 and had passed muster and was 
assigned to the 13th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers and was about 
ready to be sent to the regiment when father returned and took him 
out. 

On August 13th, 18G2, Hiram ran away again and enlisted the 
second time. Father was put to a stress to decide what to do, and as 
I had been begging him to allow me to enlist, he had finally concluded 
that it would be best to allow me to go with Hiram. On the morning 
of the 15th of August, 1862, I walked to Janesville, a distance of twelve 
miles, and enlisted in the same company with Hiram. Father coming 
in on the following Saturday and signing papers giving his consent, we 
were both mustered into the United States Army as full-fledged 
soldiers. 

My dear readers, the preceding pages are a biography of my early 
life up to the time of my enlistment in the army, and are recorded to 
give the reader some idea of the circumstances and conditions causing 
my enlistment, and I will now leave it to the reader to derive his own 
conclusion whether it was a pure motive of patriotism or a boy's desire 
for adventure that I left a comfortable home and a fond mother's care 
to enter the service for three long years. 



COMPANY AND REGIMENTAL ORGANIZATION. 

I have stated in the preceding: chapter that Brother Hiram and I 
had enlisted and were sworn into the United States Army on the 15th 
day of August, 1862, at Janesville, Wisconsin. We remained at Janes- 
ville until the 1st of September and during that time our Company was 
recruited to 100 men, or "boys," I should have said, as our company 
was nearly all boys under the age of 20 years. On the 20th of August 
we elected our company officers. 

There were eight corporals chosen, and my brother, Hiram, was 
the eighth, but it was only for a short time he retained his chevrons, 
as he was always into som« mischief, for which he was reprimanded. 

We were now fully organized as a company. On the 1st of Septem- 
ber we were transported to Camp Utley, Racine, Wis., on the shore of 
Lake Michigan, where we were joined by other companies and organ- 
ized into a regiment of 1,000 men, consisting of ten companies, and 
receiving our letter, B Co., 33d Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. We 
remained at Camp Utley for one month, going on regimental drill and 
daily routine of camp duty. We drew our uniforms the first week we 
were at Camp Utley. No guns; doing guard duty armed with clubs 
and canes. Woe to the enemy who ventured too close, for he was in 
great danger of life and limb. 

WISCONSIN THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT VOLUNTEERS. 
Regimental Field Officers. 

J. B. MOORE, Colonel Lancaster, Wis. 

F. S. LOV^ELL, Lieut. Colonel Kenosha, Wis. 

H. H. VIRGIN, Major Platteville, Wis. 

WM. WARNER, Adjutant Shullsburg, Wis. 

J. W. NICHOLS, Quartermaster Janesville, Wis. 

J. B. WHITING, Surgeon Janesville, Wis. 

C. R. BLACKALL, 1st Ass't Surgeon Kenosha, Wis. 

D. W. CARLEY, 2d Ass't Surgeon Boscobel, Wis. 

A. A. OVERTON, Chaplain 

The Rock County Plough Boys for Union or Death. Company E. 
Commissioned Officers. 

IRA MILTIMORE. Capt Janesville, Wis. 

HENRY S. SWIFT, Jr., 1st Lieut Edgerton, Wis. 

PARDON FI. SWIFT, 2d Lieut Edgerton, Wis. 

Non-Commissioned Officers. 
Sergeants. 

1— H. B. CORNELL Lima, Wis. 

2— EDWARD COOK Porter, Wis. 



3— BARTHOLEMBW QUIGLEY Edgerton, Wis. 

4— DANIEL D. RICHARDS Janesville, Wis. 

5— WM. CORNELL Lima, Wis. 

Corporals. 

1— S. B. CROCKER Lima. Wis. 

2— NATHANIEL SMITH Lima, Wis. 

3— A. H. RIME Plymouth, Wis. 

4— THOMAS QUIGLEY Edgerton, Wis. 

5— C. E. GREEN Lima, Wis. 

6— C. W. NICKERSON Lima, Wis. 

7— JAMES REESE Janesville, Wis. 

8— JACOB SMITH Janesville, Wis. 

ALONZO E. MILTIMORE, Fifer Janesville, Wis. 

S. H. C ALLEN DER, Drummer Broadhead, Wis. 

LEVI H. FOUNTAIN, Wagoner Porter, Wis. 

Privates. 

ANDERSON, FRANKLIN Lima, Wis. 

BABCOCK, ADELBBRT Lima, Wis. 

BARBER, W. G Lima, Wis. 

BYRNES, ANTHONY Lima, Wis. 

BYRNES, THOMAS Lima, Wis. 

BURNHAM, RENSSELAER Hebron, Wis. 

BUNCE, J. P La Prairie, Wis. 

CRAIG, OTHO Lima, Wis. 

COFFEE, JAMES Edgerton, Wis. 

CLIFFORD, R. W Porter, Wis. 

CLARK, JAMES K Porter, Wis. 

FAIRCHILD, HENRY Lima, Wis. 

FREEMAN, JAMES Lima, Wis. 

FLINT, J. A Lima, Wis. 

FEIRO, FREDERICK Johnstown, Wis. 

GOODELL, WOLDO Edgerton, Wis. 

GOODMAN, JOHN. . .• Lima, Wis. 

GALE, WILLIAM Lima, Wis. 

GROEN, N Plymouth, Wis. 

HALL, JOSEPH C Broadhead, Wis. 

HOWARD, IRA M Edgerton, Wis. 

HAVILAND, NATHAN La Prairie, Wis. 

HAUGEN, A. N Plymouth, Wis. 

HEHIR, PATRICK Janesville, Wis. 

JOHNSON, J. C Porter, Wis. 

KENNEDY, C. A Porter, Wis. 



KNUDSON, INGEBRET Spring Valley, Wis. 

LEYORSON, KNUD Spring Valley, Wis. 

LEVORSON, HENDRICK Spring Valley, Wis. 

LEVORSON, TOLEP Spring Valley, Wis. 

LYON, ALEX. K Edgerton, Wis. 

LOOBY, CHARLES Lima, Wis. 

LAWLER, MICHEAL Johnstown, Wis. 

MEEGAN, J. C Janesville, Wis. 

MELVIN, VALENTINE Janesville, Wis. 

McKEE, WILLL4M Janesville, Wis. 

MEDGORDAN, H. H Plymouth, Wis. 

Mcdonald, alex Lima, wis. 

MORY, ADAM Cooksville, Wis. 

NOE, LEWIS Janesville, Wis. 

NIGHT, THOMAS Janesville, Wis. 

OLSON, OLE Spring Valley, Wis. 

OLSON, SYVER Spring Valley, Wis. 

OLSON, HALGRIEM Spring Valley, Wis. 

OLSON, HENDRICK Plymouth, Wis. 

PATCH, EMORY Lima, Wis. 

RHODES, ORVILL Janesville, Wis. 

ROBINSON, EDMUND Lima, Wis. 

ROBINSON, HIRAM N Spring Valley, Wis. 

ROBINSON, A. J Plymouth, Wis. 

RIDER, BRAINERD Porter, Wis. 

SOUTHWICK, WILLIAM Turtle, Wis. 

STOKES, CHARLES F Porter, Wis. 

STEWART, R. B Janesville, Wis. 

SMITH, JAMES Porter, Wis. 

STAFFORD, R. A Peru, N. Y. 

SUTTON, ALONZO Porter, Wis. 

STEELE, F. A Porter, Wis. 

SQUIRES. E. R Porter, Wis. 

TEARNEY, JOHN Fulton, Wis. 

TURNER, JAMES Lima, Wis. 

VAN PATTEN, FRANCIS Porter, Wis. 

WEST, JOHN Edgerton, Wis. 

WAIT, HIRAM Porter, Wis. 

WEAVER, WILLIAM Janesville, Wis. 

WATT, JOHN Edgerton, Wis. 

WILLIAMS, RIGHT Porter, Wis. 

WHEELER, C. H Fulton, Wis. 

YOUNG, CHARLES Johnstown, Wis. 



10 



Adjutant Orderly 

i i 

Major Colonel Lieut. Colonel 



iAi iGi iDi iFi IB iiiiiii i C i i H i i E i i K i i 1 i 
iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiii 

The preceding diagram is a representation of our regimental for- 
mation in line of battle. 

On the 2d of October, 1862, we received orders to pack knapsacks 
and be ready to march to the depot at 10 a. m., where we were loaded 
on freight cars bound for Cairo, 111., arriving at Cairo the morning of 
the 3d, where tbere was the "White Cloud," a Mississippi transport, 
awaiting us, and on which we were embarked, floating down the river 
at 8 a. m. Arriving at Memphis, Tenn., the morning of the 8th, we 
disembarked and marched out to the south suburbs of the city and 
camped in an old cotton field, without shelter or arms, in the enemy's 
country, with nothing to protect us from an attack. We dear little 
boys, away from home and mothers' care, were destined to put in one 
night at least on the cold, cold ground, with nothing to protect us but 
our blankets and rubber ponchos and the canopy of heaven. 

On the morning of the 9th we were awakened by the sound of the 
reveille and lined up for roll call, to which we answered as our respec- 
tive names were called, by "Here!" After roll call we were busily 
engaged in preparing our breakfast, which was the first meal that each 
individually had prepared since our enlistment. Our meals had 
formerly been served by a company cook, and there were some very 
amusing circumstances during our morning repast. 

After our breakfast the orderly sergeant came around, making 
the detail for camp guard, and also a fatigue squad, to which Charles 
Steel, Ruf Stafford and 1 were selected, with Corporal Clifford in charge, 
to report at headquarters at 8 a. m. We were marched to the adjutant's 
tent and there were lined up with a like detail from each company, 
when we were instructed by the adjutant to report to the quarter- 
master at the city wharf, where we were marched and set at work 
unloading a boatload of camp equipage, tents, guns and ammunition, 
and loading them into our regimental wagons, to be hauled to our camp. 

When v/e arrived at our camp at noon there had been quite a 
change. Our new bell tents had been raised in company rows of twelve 
tents to each company and two wall tents for company officers, forming 
a white city. Our guns and forty rounds of ammunition were issued 

11 



to us. Our guns were the long Enfield rifles, and with cartridge boxes 
and belts, bayonet and scabbard, weighed twelve pounds. 

At 4 o'clock that afternoon we were ordered out for regimental drill 
and parade with full equipment, and from that time on were drilled 
twice a day while we remained in Memphis. We were now organized 
in regular military form and put through a rigid drill of arms and gen- 
eral camp duty. Our company was divided into twelve messes of eight 
men to a tent, and we paired off in bunkmates to suit our own choice. 

On the 12th of October, 1862, I was detailed for the first time on 
regular picket duty and placed out as sentinel on the outside line, and 
I vividly remember that night. We were on the main pike road to 
Holly Springs in an oak forest, perhaps a mile from our camp. My 
turn came for outpost at 10 p. m. to 12 m. It had rained all day and 
the night was very dark. I had a beat of about 200 yards to walk and 
pass the word to comrades on adjoining beats, "Who comes there?" 
Answer, "All is well." We could sarcely see the form of a man ten 
steps distant. I was making my return to the road to my right when 
I saw the form of an animal I took to be a horse coming in on the 
road. I commanded "Halt!" It paid no attention. My next command 
was "Halt! Who comes there?" cocking my gun at the same time, but 
the object still came on, and another showed up in the rear. I fired 
with the third command and brought down the leading object, and 
there was a scurry through the woods of several sounds on the run. I 
reloaded before I advanced on my prey and walked up stealthily at 
bayonet charge upon my enemy. To my surprise, I found I had killed 
a calf. 

I had an attack of the buck ague all the balance of my two-hour 
stand, and I was the jest of the camp the next day. 

We remained at Memphis until the 20th of November, 1862, and 
during the time were put through a thorough drill of arms and were or- 
ganized in brigade of four regiments as follows; 33d Wisconsin Infan- 
try, 3d Iowa Infantry, 44th Illinois Infantry, 41st Missouri Infantry. Our 
brigade commander was A. J. Smith, then brigadier-general. 

The three regiments we were brigaded with had been through the 
campaign with General Grant at Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh and had 
been badly cut up. They were sent to Memphis to garrison until they 
were recruited and organized. They were greatly put out to think they 
should be reorganized with a regiment of new, inexperienced men, and 
we were the butt of ridicule with them for some time and until our 
first engagement in battle, when the tide was turned, and we were 
all great friends thereafter. 

The garrison of Memphis was in command of General Washburn 
during our stay, and the old regiments did not like him. They thought 
him a coward, as General Forest had raided in to Memphis and drove 

12 



them to cover of the fort but a few days previous to our arrival There 
was but a small garrison at that time, of new troops principally, and 
Forest was making his raids frequent to cut off Grant's supplies while 
on the campaign through Mississippi. 



HISTORY OF OUR FLAG. 

By A. J. Robinson, Co. E. 33d Wis. Vol. Inf. 

Our grand old flag 
Composed of rags. 
As history has recorded 
Composed was She 
Of colors three, 

How nobly have they blended. 

In 1777 of our history has thus stated 
By Betsy Ross, who stitched acrost 

With hands and fingers nimble; 
Thirteen stripes of red and white, 
A field of blue she added, 

With thirteen stars assembled. 

Our forefathers old. 
So we have been told, 

In Congress had assembled; 
And with bared heads 
Proclaimed, it is said. 

It a Symbol of Freedom and Independence 

Oh! Long may She wave 
Over the home of the brave 

Over land, and sea, and ocean; 
And with honor rare 
She is received everywhere, 

By every land and nation. 



1$ 



OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN. 

On the 20th of November, 1862, we received orders to strike camp 
and be ready to march by 7 a. m. We were issued two days' rations 
and sixty rounds of cartridges, which meant there was something doing. 
We were all ready and waiting orders. The boys had loaded them- 
selves down with goods from home, and nearly all had supplied them- 
selves with heavy shoes or boots and were wearing them instead of 
the army shoe. Sergeant Cook had been in the regular army and had 
experience in marching. When he saw the boys were discarding the 
army shoe, he said with his Irish wit: "Me boys, let me give ye a 
bit of advice. Throw away thim boots and put on thim army stogies 
and ye'll be thankin' the old man before the day is done." 

We were delayed until 10 a. m., when the order came to march. 
There were two brigades and a four-gun battery of 12-pound howitzers, 
1st Missouri, Battery M, and a battalion of cavalry in the command. 
We marched out on the Hernando road, camping the first night about 
20 miles out from INIemphis in a cornfield. It was raining when we 
went into camp and dark. There was a ten-rail fence around the field, 
and in a very few minutes we had large fires of pine rails throughout 
the camp. 

The boys were busy making coffee in a cup held over the blaze, 
also frying their bacon on bayonet or ramrod. We had not been in 
camp but a short time when I was detailed for picket duty and with 
a squad of 100 from our regiment was marched out a mile south of 
camp. But quite different were the arrangements to those we had 
formerly gone through. The sentry was placed stationary every sixty 
steps, and our orders were to watch closely in our front and to call 
"Halt!" to the least sound, and at second command to shoot, taking 
no chances from the front of our line. It seemed that we were in close 
proximity to the enemy by the precautions taken. 

My dear readers, you may imagine the thoughts of a boy in his 
seventeenth year, standing a lonely sentry on a bleak, wet night, with 
the enemy within a rifle shot of his post, and in fact a skirmish line in 
the early morning, when we exchanged shots, and the bark chipped 
from the tree at my ear, which was my only shelter. This was my 
experience the second day after our leaving Memphis, and the morning 
of the 21st of November we were in pursuit of a detachment of Forest's 
army and drove them into their breast-works at Coldwater, where we 
had the river between us and they in a fortified camp. We had proved 
our mettle in the fight at Coldwater and won the cheers of the old 
battle-scarred comrades of our brigade. But we had lost five noble 
officers. Our first lieutenant, Henry Swift, was killed in the first 
volley. Captain Lindsly, of Company H, and three of Company A were 
also killed, and 17 in the regiment were wounded. 

14 



That evening we were marched back about four miles north of 
Coldwater and went into camp on a large cotton plantation. It was 
raining hard and we were without tents. There was a large cotton gin 
and negro quarters and outbuildings, which the boys used for shelter. 
I found a small bin filled nearly full of field peas, in which Stafford 
and I made our bed, and we were not slow to investigate our find, 
and the next morning we had a fine pot of the peas prepared for our 
breakfast. When we were called by reveille that morning and lined up 
for roll call, it was with sad thoughts of our loss of the previous evening. 
Instead of the cheerful greeting of our first in command, we were 
greeted by our second lieutenant, P. H. Swift, a brother, so filled with 
emotion that he could not give the commands, but broke down with 
grief. There were tears in every eye of that company, for we had all 
learned to love Henry Swift. 

P. H. Swift proved his equal and was made our captain shortly 
after that campaign. Our old captain, Miltimore, had shown the white 
feather and was terribly sick with gout the morning of the fight, had 
gone to the ambulance train, and on our return to Memphis we asked 
him to resign by a vote of the company. 

Captain Miltimore returned to Memphis with the remains of Lieu- 
tenant Swift, and P. H. Swift was in command of the company from 
that time on through our entire service. 

Here I must relate a laughable incident. As I have previously 
stated, a portion of our company had occupied the cotton gin during 
the night, my brother among the rest. They had slept in their wet 
clothes in the lint room, and when they came out in the morning they 
had a fleece of white which they found would not rub off. I leave it 
to the reader to imagine their plight and appearance for several days. 

I will also give here a description of the plantation before I con- 
tinue our march, so that you may have some idea of the southern 
country of that date and the crude machinery and farm implements 
in use. Our camp was on one of the largest plantations in southern 
Tennessee. There were about 400 acres in cultivation. The planter's 
house was on high ground, about the center of the plantation, and was 
a large frame two-story house with a large, spacious hall through the 
center. The ground floor, 48x30 feet, a living room 18x18, kitchen 12x18, 
parlor 18x18 and bedroom 12x18 on opposite sides of the hall, with a 
large open fireplace in each room. The upper story was divided into 
four bedrooms with hall, all rooms opening into the hall. The negro 
quarters were about 20 rods from the mansion and were a row of log 
cabins. There were thirty of them and they were surrounded by a 
high stockade of sharp pickets set in the ground. A large iron gate was 
at the entrance, which was locked securely every night by the overseer, 
whose quarters were close by the gate. At the overseer's cabin there 

15 



was a large bell on a post twelve feet high, which was used to call 
the negroes to the work and their meals. 

The stock corrals were close by, with cribs or troughs through the 
center of the corral for feeding, but no shelter or shed, and a short 
distance from this corral were the corncribs and gin house. The gin 
house was a building 40x40 feet, raised on pillars or posts ten feet 
high, supported by truss beams, giving space for the power under the 
gin house. This power was a large four-sweep wheel made of wood, 
with wooden cogs adjusted to a pinion that drove the belt wheel above 
that attached to the gin-head. The gin house is partitioned into three 
rooms, one for the reception of the cotton as it came from the field 
and in which the gin-head stands; the other two, a lint room and a press 
room. The press is a pit or case 3x4x8 feet deep in which the cotton 
is tramped until full by two negroes. Then it is compressed by a large 
wooden screw from a truss above, which is also turned by hand levers 
by the two negroes until it is one-half the size, or 3x4x4 feet, making 
a bale that would weigh about 500 pounds, which is encased in sacking 
and bound with iron hoops before it is taken out of the press. 

The tools used on the plantation were of the old, ancient style and 
clumsy and heavy to handle. The plows had wooden moldboards or 
what was styled a bulltung plow. The stock used was principally the 
mule and was used single to plow. The harness used was a shuck col- 
lar, wooden hames and chain tug, with a piece of sacking across the 
back of the mule to hold the chains at its side, with rope line and 
bridle, which were all manufactured by the negroes or slaves. 

The foregoing is a true description of the plantations throughout 
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia at the time of the Civil 
War, and the description of the plantation is that of the wealthiest and 
largest in the country. 

The morning of the 22d of November, 1862, the sun rose clear and 
bright, and by 7 a. m. we were on the march on the Herando road, 
with the cavalry deployed on our front, exchanging shots occasionally 
with the enemy. Forest had evacuated Coldwater during the night 
and had moved toward Tupalo, Mississippi, to intercept our progress 
there, and had also sent a troop to our rear that made a charge on 
our right flank and cut through our train at Carrmango about 11 a. m. 
Our regiment was rear guard and we were thrown in line and charged 
on them, repulsing them, taking 20 prisoners and a stand of colors 
they had left in their flight. Corporal Clifford was wounded here. 
There were five wounded in the regiment. 

The evening of the 22d we camped on the south slope of Red Mound 
and on the morning of the 23d we were surrounded by Foster's entire 
command. He fully expected to capture our entire force that day, 
but General Smith was just as determined that he should not, and 
massed our whole force at the top of the hill in readiness for their 

16 



attack. Forest's army outnumbered us, but we had vantage ground 
which was covered by heavy timber, while they had to advance through 
open field. 

We had parked our train and were formed in hollow square around 
it. The time had passed very quietly until about 10 a. m., when the 
enemy opened fire from the north with their artillery and kept the 
air full of shells for a half hour, but most of these shells passed our 
lines and did but little damage to us. We remained quiet, holding our 
fire until they made their charge. On they came in solid column up 
through the open cornfield, and as the first column came in our range 
we were ordered up with volley and charge bayonets repulsing their 
line, and they turned and ran for cover of their reserve. We were 
ordered to lie flat on the ground and await their second charge. In a 
very few minutes on came a second column, a third following in the 
rear. We were -held back until they had come nearly to the top of 
the hill, when we poured in our volley and charged, mixing in a hand- 
to-hand conflict, following them up in their retreat and routing their 
entire force. We had gained the victory with but small loss at Red 
Mound. Our regiment had seven wounded; our company one. Amond 
Rema was struck by a spent ball in the forehead that flattened and 
stuck to the skull, setting him crazy for several hours, but he reported 
back to the company the next day with a bandage around his head 
and the ball as a pocket-piece in his purse. 

Forest had lost 400 killed, left on the field, and quite that many 
wounded. They had sent in a flag of truce and request to bury their 
dead. I passed over the field shortly after the battle, and 1 hoped 
then to never witness another field of carnage as was fought in that 
four hours' battle of Red Mound, but it was my fate to see many others 
during my three years' service, and it is with the same feeling of awe 
that I have written this description of the scene. We remained in 
camp on the field until the morning of the 24th, when we pursued our 
march to Tupalo, Miss., where we had another engagement with For- 
est's cavalry, but only for a short skirmish. 

We camped at Tupalo for several days, until the 2d of December. 

On December 2d we were ordered to strike camp and be ready to 
march by 7 a. m. Two days' rations and cartridges to fill our cartridge 
box, 40 rounds, with 20 rounds extra, were issued to us, and at 7 o'clock 
we were on the road, leading southeast toward Holly Springs, Miss. 
We marched probably fifteen miles that day and camped that night 
at Pleasant Valley, a large Baptist school on the Tallahatchie River. 
We had barely gone into camp when the long roll was beat and we 
hustled to our guns, for the rebel cavalry came dashing in on us, and 
ran right through our camp, but with no great damage to us, only 
upsetting a few cans of coffee that had been placed on our fires. It 

17 



was "one of Forest's daredevil raids." We gave them a parting volley- 
as they passed. We had not stationed our pickets when they made 
their charge, but we gave them a warm reception. This was the first 
time we had met with such a surprise, and we were a lot of excited 
boys for a short time, with a feeling that is hard to describe. "Some- 
thing like an ague shake." We soon got down to business again, pre- 
paring our evening meal and eating it with as much relish as if nothing 
out of the ordinary had occurred to disturb us. On the morning of 
December 3d we were on the march by 4 o'clock for Holly Springs. 
During the night there had been a dispatch by courier that Forest had 
captured the place and burned the army stores there, and was tearing 
up the railroad tracks. We were put through on a forced march and 
arrived at about 4 p. m., to find the place evacuated. They had plun- 
dered the camp and torn up about two miles of railroad between Holly 
Springs and Grand Junction. They had gone in the direction of Grand 
Junction. Pap Thomas' cavalry were in hot pursuit. We camped at 
Holly Springs and repaired the railroad and garrisoned the place. I 
was detailed for picket duty that night and nearly froze while on my 
post. It had turned cold, with rain. Our rations were about exhausted, 
•and the track torn up. Forest had burned all the supplies at Holly 
Springs, and the country had been stripped of everything for miles 
by both the rebels and our army. 

We were put on quarter rations until supplies could be brought 
from Memphis. The morning of the 4th there was a forage train sent 
out to procure feed for the mules. Stafford was on the detail from 
our mess. They were sent to the south of Holly Springs to a large 
plantation on the Tallahatchie. A negro had reported that the old 
planter had an abundance of corn and provender secreted, and had 
described the place as to finding everything, but would not go with the 
boys for fear of his life. There were 200 men detailed to guard the 
train, and they soon found everything as the negro had reported and 
came back to camp with a full load and plenty. Stafford was a good 
forager, and our mess was well supplied with chicken, goose, yellow 
yams and corn cakes. 

We received orders December 6th to march on to Moscow, Miss., 
where we arrived the 8th, and pitched camp in a cotton field south of 
the village. 

We had gone into an old, deserted camp, at Holly Springs, and it 
was only a few days until our boys were infested with vermin and 
disease, which took five of our .company in a very short time. Rufe 
Stafford, my bunkmate, was the first. Poor boy, he was taken with 
dysentery and died within a week after our arrival at Moscow. Charles 
Smith, Nat Goodwin and two of our Norwegian hoys were all buried 
within twenty days. Brother Hiram was very sick and I feared that 

18 



he would be next, but he pulled through by my careful nursing. We 
were barely over with dysentery when the smallpox broke out. Joe 
Hall, of our company, was the first to come down with it. Very 
fortunately, it did not spread in the regiment. His tent was left under 
quarantine and our camp was moved some distance, and only one 
other of our company had been exposed, Brainard Rider, who remained 
and nursed Hall through his sickness. The rainy season had set in 
and the red clay hills of Mississippi were a perfect bog. There were 
many of the boys sick with chills and fever, dysentery or the jaundice, 
and there was not a day passed while we remained at Moscow that 
there was not some poor boy of our regiment buried, and it cast a 
gloom over the whole camp. 

The afternoon of December 28th at dress parade orders were read 
to strike camp in the morning, with light marching equipment, 40 
rounds of cartridges and five days' rations, which meant to load every- 
thing in wagons except our rolls of blankets, rations, guns and 
accoutrements, and be ready to march by 7 a. m. 

There was a rousing cheer throughout camp; hats were twirled 
and sent as high as they could be thrown. Every boy was glad to get 
out of that dismal camp, no matter where. A fight with Forest was 
preferable to staying at Moscow. We were not informed as to where 
we were to go, but the five days decided our destination, when we 
marched into Memphis and went into camp south of the fort below the 
city and close to the Mississippi river. The impression was that we 
were to remain at Memphis for some time, and we all went to work 
to make our camp as comfortable as possible for the winter. Ground 
was cleared, our tents were raised and walled three feet, fireplaces 
built of cobblestones, mud and sticks, and in a few days we had very- 
comfortable quarters. Our time was occupied by regimental drill, 
picket duty and city patrol. 

The 9th of January it turned very cold, with snow and sleet. It 
was my misfortune to be on picket duty again, and I suffered with cold. 
The ground had frozen hard and there was about three inches of snow. 
We were not allowed any fire, only on the reserve post. The sentinel 
had to keep on the move to keep up circulation, or freeze. It was so 
cold that ice formed on the river along the bank strong enough to hold 
up a man's weight and a great many of the boys ventured out for a 
slide. It remained cold for several days, and our fireplaces were a 
great comfort. 

Captain Swift was a great hand to play pranks on the boys. One 
night when we were all enjoying our fire he made up a squad and had 
every chimney covered with a board. The reader can imagine the 
result. A short distance from our camp lived an old Irish woman who 
had a large flock of geese. Orval Rhodes, of our company, had been 

19 



down to the river fishing, and in coming to camp passed the old 
woman's geese. He slipped a bait on his hook and trailed his line 
out. As he passed, Mr. Goose spied the bait and seized it, hook and 
all. The result. The goose followed Rhodes to camp — and also the old 
woman. There was a dialogue between the old woman and Rhodes 
that is not worthy of space here. Every cloud has a silver lining. We 
had our joy and sorrow, privation and amusement, and with a camp 
of a thousand men you will find all classes and characters of humanity. 
Time at Memphis passed very pleasantly. Grant's army was coming 
in and were sent down the river by steamboat. There were also a 
great many new regiments arriving daily. The 38th Wisconsin came 
in and were camped only a short distance from our camp. They had 
brought lots of goodies from home and, of course, our boys were very 
friendly with them and were glad to share their sweet morsels with 
them and talk of "Home, Sweet Home." We had a beautiful camp 
and fine parade ground. Our streets were kept perfectly clean and in 
perfect sanitary condition, and our boys had all regained their health 
and were happy and contented, and entered into all kinds of enjoy- 
ment — dancing, theatrical plays and minstrel shows. We had an excel- 
lent band that gave life to our camp. Thus time passed off at Memphis 
while we remained there. 



20 



THE DEUTCHER VOLUNTEER. 

Copyright secured. 

Composed by A. J. Robinson, 1863, Co. E., 33d Wis. Vol. Inf. 
My name is Jacob Snyder, 

Und I just come here this night 
From Mississippi from Smith's army, 

Where all the time they fights, 
[t was in Janesville city 

I first heard the drum and fife, 
Und mit a chicken tail stuck in my hat 

I marched up mitout fear 
Und joined the Yankee Army, 

As a Deutcher Volunteer. 
Now when we left Janesville city 

The people all did stand, 
At the depot for to see us off 

Und shook us by the hand. 
The womans shook their handkerchiefs, 

Und bid us all good bye, 
Und the boys began to cheer us, 

Und I began to cry. 
But when I thought of the beer gardens. 

Where the Deutchers used to meet. 
To walk around with Deutch girls, 

Und sing Deutch songs und treat, 
I swallowed down two quarts of snoops 

Und a keg of lager beer, 
Und brave just like a Gineral 

Was this Deutcher Volunteer. 
Und when we got to where the war was. 

They stood us in a row. 
For to learn us when they holler 

Which way we have to go. 
We load our guns mit nothings 

Und try to shoot them right, 
Und charge upon the rebels 

When no rebel was in sight. 
Und I was just so proud on drill 

As no man effer vas. 
Shots mine gun more times off than all, 

None else could louder cheer, 
Und brave just like a Gineral 

Was this Deutcher Volunteer. 



21 



One morning very early 

The rebels corned in sight, 
Und the OflBcers they tell us 

We must prepare to fight. 
Oh! my teeth did knock togeder, 

Und my hands they shook so bad, 
I tried to shoot my bayonet off 

I was so develish mad. 
Und when the rebels shoot their gun off, 

The balls they come so thick, 
I think I must go somewhere, 

I was so very sick. 
Und the poys they all did laugh at me 

When I went to the rear, 
Und they stuck the bayonet somewhere 

In this Deitcher Volunteer. 
Now all you gentlemen what goes to war 

To fight mit your country's foes. 
Take my advice, prepare yourself 

The day before you goes. 
Take a couple barrels of sauer kraut, 

Mit lots of Switzer cheese, 
Und some bologna sausage, 

Und eny tings else you please; 
Und when you goes to battle 

Drink all the snoops you can. 
Get behind some big tree. 

That be some Officers' plan; 
Lower your knapsack down your back 

To cover up the rear, 
Und then you won't get wounded, 

Like this Deitcher Volunteer. 



22 



VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. 

The morning of February 7th, 1863, we were paid four months' pay, 
issued five days' rations, 60 rounds of cartridges and a sheet of can- 
vas 5 feet by 6 feet, with buttons on one edge and stake loops on the 
other, so that two sheets could be buttoned together, which we called 
dog tents. These were to be our tents and shelter. Our quartermas- 
ter had been around and taken an inventory of our camp. That meant 
there was something in the wind. That afternoon, on dress parade, 
there were orders read to be ready to march to the city landing by 
6 a. m., leaving our tents and camp stand. This was not approved by 
some of the boys. They did not like the idea of leaving our comfort- 
able camp for some new regiment to occupy and enjoy, and there were 
a good many pranks played, such as splitting the forks of the stakes 
that supported the bunks, burying blank cartridges in the fire places, 
or stuffing the chimneys with old blankets and cast off clothing; any- 
thing that would be likely to give annoyance to the new occupants. 

We were in line promptly at 6 o'clock the morning of the 8th, and 
were marched to the city landing. There we stacked our arms and 
lay awaiting our turn for loading on the boats. There were three 
boats assigned for our brigade. The 3d Iowa and 41st Missouri were 
embarked on the "White Cloud," a large boat, and the one that first 
brought our regiment to Memphis. The 44th Illinois was next, on the 
"Queen," a stern-wheeler; our regiment, the 33d Wisconsin, on the 
"Natchez," a stern-wheeler, and we were started down the river in 
that order, leaving Memphis at 11 o'clock a. m. The third day, as we 
neared Young's Point, the "White Cloud" was fired into by a masked 
battery from the east bank. We answered with a volley of musketry, 
and our boat in the rear was ordered to land at a landing a short dis- 
tance above, the other two going down the river. Our regiment was 
landed and marched across the bend about two miles, where we came 
in sight of the battery, two guns. They had spied us and were off on 
a gallop. Here they had another embrasure and would have given the 
boats another shot had we not surprised them. We pursued them four 
miles. We then marched back to luca, twelve miles below where we 
had landed, and found our boats awaiting us there. We were not 
molested again in our going down the river, and arrived at Milican's 
Bend the 12th, where we were disembarked and went into camp. 

February 13th we awoke in the morning to find our camp flooded 
with water from the river, everything drenched, and we were wading 
out to higher ground, and the boys were singing the nautical song as 
they marched out, "Mark Twain, Mark above water Twain, nine feet, 
no bottom." It was quite amusing to see how cheerful the boys took 
their wetting. The country is a flat level and protected by a levee, 
a bank of earth thrown up along the bank of the river. This had 
washed out or broken in many places, letting the water in. 

23 



Grant was concentrating his army here and some had already gone 
below Grand Gulf, on this side of the river. Troops were moving south 
every day. We were in sound of the gunboats' fire on Vicksburg. 
There was a large lot of army stores here, which we were guarding, 
unloading from boats every day, and wagon trains were loaded and 
sent down below Vicksburg. A deserter came to our camp on the 17th 
and reported that there was a rebel camp up the river about 30 miles, 
near the mouth of White River, wTiere they had a small steamboat and 
two barges that they were crossing men to the east side with; that their 
camp was secreted on a bayou entering the WTiite River, a camp of 
500 men, commanded by Colonel Gurley. 

We had received orders to be ready to march at 10 o'clock, issued 
five days' rations, 40 rounds of cartridges and light camp outfit, two 
wagons loaded with picks and shovels, and were marched up the river 
20 miles, where we apparently go into camp, but only until darkness, 
when our regiment was divided into two troops. Companies K and I 
were sent up the river to the mouth of White River; the balance of 
the regiment was marched west in the cypress swamp over a corduroy 
road. We moved with great caution. I must here state that our picks 
and shovels were unloaded at the river, where they were put in array 
as if we were to work on the levee, ostensibly for a blind, to lead the 
rebels, if any were spying our movements, to think our purpose was 
to repair the levee. 

We were moving with great caution, probably having gone twelve 
miles, when we came to a halt, and there one company was detached, 
turning their ponchos wrong side out over their shoulders. They 
marched on and we heard them halted by the enemy's picket. The 
deserter who had come to our camp was dressed in rebel uniform and 
was sent up, announcing a friend with the countersign. He relieved 
the picket and told him that they are on the march to cross the river. 
This ruse was followed up until we relieved all their sentinels and we 
stationed our pickets and disarmed the rebels. Then we marched in 
on their camp and took them totally by surprise without firing a gun. 
We found their guns stacked and took possession of them before we 
aroused them. The jig was up. We had captured 400 prisoners, with 
their entire camp outfit, and we guarded them in their own camp until 
daybreak, when we burned everything that would burn — the two scows 
and steamboat — and marched out to where we had formed our camp 
and were back in Milican Bend February 20th in our old camp. The 
Johnnies were sent up the river the next day. They wanted a boat 
ride, and they got one. They had been ferrying troops across the 
river to the east side at night and secreted their boat during the day- 
time. This had been the source of reinforcements to Pemberton for 
some time. 

34 



We remained at Milican Bend guarding the army stores until the 
28th of March. That afternoon we were ordered to embark on a boat, 
and with two of the marine boats were sent up the Yazoo River after 
dark. The fleet ran the blockade that night, the sky was red with 
shell from our mortar fleet, and the rebel batteries were pouring their 
shot into our fleet. Our motive was to blow out the blockade in the 
Yazoo River while the fleet passed Vicksburg, but it was found im- 
practicable, as the rebels had it covered in range of four of their 
seige guns and were on the alert, and commenced shelling us before 
we could reach the blockade. They had spies out all along the river. 

We returned to Milican Bend and were in our old camp again. The 
river was very high and the Yazoo was flooding the whole country on 
its north bank, which is nearly all cypress swamp. The mortar fleet 
was firing shell into Vicksburg every night. It made a beautiful sight 
as the fuse twirled with the revolution of the shell, but it must have 
created sad havoc in the city, and it made me shudder with horror 
for the poor people who were within their range. War is cruel! war 
is inhuman. 

April 7th, 1863. We have received orders to march at 7 a. m.; do 
not know what is up, but probably will by night. Three days' rations 
and the usual 40 rounds of cartridges are issued to us. Our equipment 
is always light now, and we carry our entire stock with us, consisting 
of roll of blankets, dog tent, canteen, haversack, gun and cartridge 
box; the whole outfit weighs about 22 pounds. We have cast off our 
knapsack and all surplus clothing. A change of shirt, socks and un- 
derwear we carry in our roll of blankets, which is tied together at the 
ends and worn across our shoulder. Our cooking utensils are a tin 
plate, cup, bayonet and ramrod of our gun, which we use to broil our 
bacon and hold our cup of coffee over the fire. We were not long in 
learning to adhere to Sergeant Cook's advice on our first march out 
from Memphis, to throw away everything unnecessary and lighten our 
burden; also wear the army "stogy". We are embarking on the 
"luca" and going up the Yazoo again. There are eight boats loaded 
with our division and the 1st Missouri, Battery M. We are nearing 
the blockade and the rebels have opened fire with solid shot and shell 
from their siege guns. We land on the north bank of the river. The 
"Esic", one of our ironclad gunboats, is engaging the rebel battery 
and also firing on the blockade to break it. It is composed of rafts of 
logs, strongly chained together, and we fear there are mines laid. 
The shell and solid shot from the rebel batteries are shrieking over 
our heads as we disembark, but they have overreached their mark 
and have done no damage thus far. The transports are backing down 
the river out of range as fast as they are unloaded. We are marching 
through the swamp northeast; are in water sometimes up to our thighs. 
The rebel batteries seem to direct their fire mostly on the "Esic". It 

26 



is nearly dark, and we are still moving on in the swamp through dense 
cypress trees. 

We have reached high ground and have entered camp. Our bat- 
tery was not unloaded and has gone down the river; none but in- 
fantry, two brigades. We get our supper and are put to v/ork making 
a road to the river, cutting small trees and laying corduroy. We work 
in reliefs of 200 men all through the night; are making good progress, 
but the boys are badly fatigued at day-break.; but still the work 
goes on. 

April 11th. The sapper and miner corps have mined the blockade 
and blown it out to-day, opening the river, but the gunboats cannot go 
up any further. They have to back down, as the river is too narrow 
for them to turn. We are continuing our road on up the north bank 
and are out of range of the rebel batteries. There are other troops 
coming up to-day and our batteries have come to the camp. We are 
about twelve miles above the mouth of the river and have thrown a 
pontoon across and are crossing to-day, the 14th; are on dry land 
again, in heavy timber. We are still building road, southeast now, 
toward Jackson, Mississippi. There are a good many of the boys hav- 
ing chills and fever. 

We have not seen a farm or a living being except our own force 
for nine days, but can hear the bark of dogs this morning, April 17th. 

Have struck civilization again to-day; have camped at a plantation 
twenty miles east of Vicksburg on a road leading to Jackson, have a 
strong picket line out and have had some dispute with some of Pem- 
berton's cavalry this morning. We are holding them back while the 
other troops are working on the road repairing back through the 
swamps and helping our train of wagons through. Our force is get- 
ting stronger every day — more troops coming up and two more field 
batteries. We can hear the cannon to the south of us to-day. May 
15th, at Champion Hills, and a courier has brought the news that 
Grant is driving Pemberton into Black River and we are ordered to 
advance toward that point. The cannon are booming louder every 
hour. We are nearing Black River and have a connected line sur- 
rounding Pemberton, who has crossed the river to-day. May 17th, and 
has burned the bridge after him. 

May 19th. There are two pontoon bridges thrown across the river, 
and troops are crossing as rapidly as they can and marching on to 
Vicksburg. We are guarding the ford and bridge. The railroad bridge 
is still burning this morning, the 20th. We hear the siege guns boom- 
ing at Vicksburg. We are about eight miles east, and still on the east 
side of Black River, guarding the ford. The cavalry came in to-day, 
"Pap" Thomas commanding. 

They had followed Joe Johnson's retreat from Jackson, and kept 
him on the run to the Alabama line, where they made a stand and were 

26 



too mucli for him. They came back through Jackson and burned the 
bridge across the Pearl River; tore up the railroad for miles. They 
have relieved us and we are moving across the river and are building 
a fort commanding the fcrd of Black River and have placed four big 
siege guns. Grant made a cTiarge on the works at Vicksburg, the 
22d, and was repulsed with heavy loss. We could hear the roar of the 
artillery Tiere. Another division of troops crossed the river to-day, 
May 24th, and have moved on to Vicksburg. They came from Grand 
Gulf and report the fleet has come up the river from New Orleans. 

We are having but little fear liere as long as "Pap" Thomas is on 
the east side and Grant at Vicksburg. We are pretty well protected 
for the present; but it is rumored that Joe Johnson is moving back 
towards Jackson and is reinforced by Hood's army and we are strength- 
ening our works every day and placing more siege guns. The east 
side of tTie river is a low, flat country, heavily timbered, and where 
we are stationed is high, rough, clay hills, and when it rains, as it has 
done for several days, it is very muddy and disagreeable working, as 
we are doing every day, extending our rifle pits. 

To-day, the 28th, I am on picket duty at the pontoon bridge. Three 
families of negroes came, with their whole belongings in pack, eigh- 
teen in number, big and little, and wanted to cross and go to "Massa" 
Grant, but we have strict orders to allow no contrabands to cross; no 
one but fhose with the proper pass word or countersign can go across 
the river. 

Another division came in to-day, the 29th, and has gone into camp 
here. We have orders to move to the front and are moving to the 
left flank of our lines, and have camped in a ravine about one mile 
from the Mississippi River. Minnie balls are whistling all around us, 
and every little while a shell bursts and fhe fragments go "chipering" 
in every direction. There is constant musketry fire. We are assigned 
a position in the line of pits right opposite a large fort and to the left 
of one of our heavy field batteries of six guns. 

To-day, the 30th, we are in the rifle pits. Brother Hiram was 
taken with fever last night and sent to the field hospital, which caused 
me much anxiety. I am as tough as a pine knot, and have not been 
Pick a day since I enlisted. Our pits are about 800 yards from the 
enemy, but in range of our Enfield rifles, and we make the dirt fly 
every shot. We are digging the laterals out and advance a little every 
night and throw up new rifle pits. There are two six-hour reliefs; 
one-tbird of the regiment at a time in the front line, fhe same as on 
picket duty, though we are on six hours instead of two. The night 
shift is in the least danger, as the firing ceases at dark generally, un- 
less there is a night charge. 

June 7th. I have got a permit to visit Hiram to-day at the hos- 
pital. I find him improving. Dr. Whiting says he will bring him 

27 



around in a day or two. He has malarial fever. I am on night shift, 
went on at 7 p. m. Our reliefs are arranged so as to change at dark, 
to avoid danger of exposure to the rebel fire. About 11 o'clock we 
advance across a ravine and throw up new pits. We are working 
lively. The rebs fired a volley at us, but fheir shots went wild. 

We make baskets that are filled with earth and rolled on ahead 
of us as we dig our laterals, and as we draw closer to their works we 
are more cautious. There were two of Company B wounded in our ad- 
vance last night. We never know the casualties until our relief comes. 

June 14th. The whole regiment is ordered out to-night to take the 
pits. There is something out of the usual going to happen to-night: 
60 rounds of cartridges have been issued to us; are in the pits by 7 
p. m. ; the batteries are playing lively all around our lines; also the 
mortar fleet are more active and are sending shell lively; there is a 
constant rattle of musketry to our right; we are ordered out of our 
pits about 10 o'clock and charge about 200 yards to the crest of a hill 
in our front, and there is a line of men with pick and spade set to 
work on another line of pits, while we lie in front of them guarding 
the work. At the time we made our charge there was a heavy roll of 
sound to our right and a perfect hum of musketry. We did not know 
what had happened until morning, when we learned there had been a 
mine touched off and one of the rebel forts blown up; a charge into 
the rebel lines, but unsuccessful, and a heavy loss of life. This was 
the third unsuccessful charge made to enter their works and Gen. 
Grant has concluded to continue the siege and starve them out. Smoke 
won't work. We are now within 400 yards of one of their strongest 
forts, and the muzzles of their big guns look ugly to us. They have 
tried our line with shrapnel to-day, but no harm has been done, except 
to knock some of our baskets out and throw the dirt over us in our 
pits. We lay low until they spent their ammunition to their content 
and have ceased their fire, and then, if there is a hat raised above fhe 
works, there will be a hundred shots strike pretty close thereabouts. 

June 23d. We liave wormed up pretty close to the Johnnies and 
can talk to them, but both sides have to be very cautious "how they 
show themselves. Both sides are getting to be expert shots. Some- 
times the boys put their hats on their ramrods and hold them above 
the works and they are usually pierced with a dozen bullets. There 
have been four killed to-day, two of Co. K, one in Co. C and one in 
Co. B. There are some wounded nearly every day. If we stay down 
in our pits there is but little danger, but some get careless and they 
are the ones to suffer. We are digging a tunnel to the fort in our front 
and have it nearly finished, but have suspended work for two days; 
do not know why, but we obey orders when they come from head- 
quarters. 

28 



June 28fh Gen. Grant was reviewing our works this morning and 
inspecting the line. He was dressed in an old slouch hat, common 
blouse and pants tucked in his bootlegs, with spurs, and the usual ci- 
gar the only marks to identify him from the common soldier, and he 
certainly knew how to duck his head when a ball passed too close. 
There were five other officers with him. None of them carried their 
swords and all were dressed in common fatigue uniform. 

Last night three of our boys met three of the rebs half way be- 
tween our lines and exchanged coffee for tobacco. They sat and 
chatted for half an hour, and it is a usual occurrence to hear the fol- 
lowing dialogue between the Johnnies and our boys: "Say. Yank, 
when you-all goin' to move into Vicksburg. hey?" "Well. Johnny, 
when you have eaten your last mule and dog we expect to come over; 
see " "But we have got lots of 'em yet. Say, Yank, you got any coffee 
to swap? Give you pound of tobacco for cup of coffee. What you 
c^ay''" "AH right, bring it over, Johnny. I'll meet you half way.' All 
right- here I come. Don't you shoot." "We won't. Come on, I am 
with you" These conversations are an every evening occurrence 
since we have been so close to their works, between 7 p. m. and 9 
p m. and there is no firing on tlie lines, and when there is an order 
on either side to commence firing we hail them with, "Johnny, look 
out, for we are going to shoot!" and they do the same to us. 

July 1st 1863. There is an armistice to-day. Pemberton and 
Grant are negotiating terms of surrender and there are a lot of the 
boys sitting out on the works on both sides, talking over the terms 
fhat will be agreed to. The rebel band is playing "Dixie," while ours 
is playing "Columbia," and they both join in "America," and the air 
is rent with cheers. Then our band strikes out with "The Girl I Lett 
Behind Me," and the rebs with "The Girl That Wears the Palmetto 
Hat " Everything passes harmoniously. At 4 o'clock p. m. hostilities 
are begun and the word is passed, "Look out, Johnny, we are ordered 
to shoot," and all dive for their holes. There is a regular roar of 
artillery all around the lines and the mortar fleet keeps the air full of 
shells. 

July 3d 1863 There are white flags placed all along the rebel 
works this morning; firing has ceased and there appears to be a per- 
fect gloom on the rebel side. None of the boys show themselves. 
Grant and Pemberton are out under a big live oaJi tree between the 
lines conferring. 

A good many of our boys are at work washing and cleaning up; 
say they are going to a play in Vicksburg, and some have even shaved 
and blacked their shoes for the occasion. Captain Swift has just ap- 
peared and announced: "Boys, we are going to march into Vicksburg 
to-morrow at 10 a. m. Hip, hip. hurrah!" and there is a rousing cheer 
all around the line. Brother Hiram came back to the company this 



29 



morning. He has been very sick, and it shows on him yet The doc- 
tor gave him permission to visit the company, but he must report to 
the hospital steward every morning for a time. 

The boys are all very cheerful and many a joke and prank are 
passed. Jimmy Tierney is taking a nap with his head on a chunk of 
wood, under a big pine tree. He is a quaint little Irishman, and the 
boys like to torment him. Several have thrown pine burrs at him and 
awakened him. He raises up on his elbow and rails out, "Ye bloody 
spalpeens, can't ye let an honest man rest a minute? There isn't a 
man of ye got any raisin'. If ye would mind yer own business, as I do 
mine, ye would be better men thin ye are." 

July 4th dawns gloriously, and we are called together by the 
reveille and lined up for roll call, the first time for over sixty days. 
The roll has been called for the past month, the orderly sergeant 
groping his way through the pits hunting up the men as they were on 
their posts. Now there is no fear of a deadly bullet or shell. There 
are five of our company who have answered their last roll call at 
Vicksburg, and eleven are lying at the hospital with fair hopes of re- 
covery. 

At 10 o'clock we are in line, with our best appearance under the 
circumstances, as we are somewhat ragged and tattered by the long 
siege, but our old musket is as bright as a dollar. "Haven't seen one 
for so long we don't know whether they are bright or green." 

The rebs are marching outside their lines and stacking their guns 
and drooping their colors over the center stack of each battalion, leav- 
ing them and marching back inside of their works. Their is a salute 
fired by our artillery all around the works and also by our fleet. We 
are marched into Vicksburg by merry music and cheers from the lusty 
fhroats of the boys. It is a glorious celebration of old Independence 
Day and one that every participant will ever remember. 

We have stacked our arms by 12 o'clock and are preparing our 
dinner. The Johnnies are mingling with us and we invite them to par- 
take with us. Nearly all of them accept our hospitality. There are 
some few who hold out stubborn and sullen. 



30 



JACKSON (MISSISSIPPI) CAMPAIGN. 

We remain at Vicksburg until the morning of the 7th of July, when 
we are ordered to march, issued 60 rounds of cartridges and five days' 
rations. We cross Black River and are marching toward Jackson, 
camping the first night about five miles east of the river and near 
Champion Hill. Near our camp is where Pemberton made his last 
stand before crossing the river, and there is a trench where the dead 
were buried, and the heavy rains have washed gullies and exposed the 
dead. It is a horrid sight. The buzzard and raven have been at work 
on the bodies exposed. We have men out reburying or covering those 
that are exposed to view. It is a gruesome task and makes a chill of 
horror run through me. 

July 9th, 1863. Our cavalry had a skirmish with Johnson yester- 
day evening and this morning they are at it again. We are advancing 
in line of battle and to our left there has been some hard fighting. 
Our brigade is on the extreme right of the line and have not been en- 
gaged yet, but iour battery, 1st Missouri, are engaging a rebel battery, 
and we lie in their support, looking for something every moment. 
The rebel line is on the crest of Champion Hill and are in an open 
field; the center of our lines is also in an open field. We on the ex- 
treme right are sheltered by timber and are on higher ground, but we 
are located where we can see their whole line, and our battery is rak- 
ing their lines. They have moved up another battery and are placing 
it a few yards to the left of the one our guns liave been playing on. 
General McPherson rode up to Colonel Pue, who has command of our 
brigade, and. said: "Colonel, take your brigade and charge that bat- 
tery." We are marched down to our right about 400 yards, under cover 
of the neck of timber, where we are within about 600 yards of their 
guns. We are commanded, "Left flank, charge, double quick!" In 
fifteen minutes after McPherson's command we had the battery and 
our battery boys had their guns trained on the rebel line in retreat. 
We had captured four guns, but they had run off with their caisson. 
That was the finish of the second battle of Champion Hill. Johnson 
is on a hurried retreat to Jackson and we are in hot pursuit. 

Sunday morning, July 11th, we are awakened by the orderly ser- 
geant with a shake of the shoulder of each man and ordered to fall in 
line at 3 o'clock a. m.. Our movement is very cautious and we are 
marching around to the south of Jackson. Just at daybreak we reach 
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad track, when we are ordered to drop our 
guns and seize a tie and turn the track over for several lengths of our 
regiment. Then we are marched to the extreme right and take our 
position close to Pearl River in dense timber, our regiment at the 
river. 

We are supposed to liave Johnson's army corraled by a strong line 
surrounding Jackson. 

31 



Time passed quietly until about 10 o'clock, when our batteries 
opened up all around our line. The rebel batteries answered, and 
while they were booming our infantry were forming for a charge. 
Our regiment was held in reserve of our brigade. The 3d Iowa, 44th 
Illinois and 41st Missouri were ordered to charge. They had about 
200 yards of timber before they came to an open field. We advance 
in their rear in support and are halted at the edge of the timber, when 
the three regiments are ordered on the double quick. The rebels hold 
their fire until they are within fifty yards of their works, when they 
open with a volley of musketry and their battery with grape and can- 
ister, mowing our boys down in a terrible slaughter. The 3d Iowa 
has charged up to their fort and placed their flag on the fort, when 
they are repulsed and turn and retreat to our line, leaving three hun- 
dred of our boj^s dead on the field. 

There had been a misunderstanding of orders. TTie charge was 
not to have been made until 4 o'clock p. m., and was to have been all 
around the lines in concert, and our poor boys had to suffer for the 
blunder of a few men with shoulder straps and minus brains. This act 
had frustrated McPherson's plans for the day and caused a general 
quarrel among the officers at headquarters. 

We lay in line until Monday morning, the 12th. Johnson had 
evacuated Jackson during the night and had moved out every gun. 
He had prepared for the retreat long before our attack and had kept 
the railroad busy shipping out army stores; had cut and built a road 
through the Pearl River swamp east of the city and had the river 
bridged witli pontoons, which he had cut loose after crossing with 
his army. The quarrel between our own officers had given him the op- 
portunity to get away without loss. We buried our poor boys Monday 
morning and marched into Jackson about 10 o'clock a. m., and returned 
to Vicksburg, where we arrived July 15th. When we marched into 
Jackson we passed a place that had a terraced lawn where there was 
a group of women jeering the boys as they passed, and one of them 
stood on the terrace and beckoned to the boys to come up and talk. 
Charles Stokes, of our company, had taken the dare and went up to 
see what she wanted. He had no sooner got within reach than the 
woman threw her skirt over his head and gathered it tight around his 
throat and hailed the other girls to come and help choke a Yankee. 

The morning of July 16th, 1863, we are embarked on boat bound 
for Natchez, Miss., arriving on the 18th, disembarked and marched up 
through the city to the north suburbs, where we camp close to the 
river and also close to a deep canyon which encircles the city. The 
upper city is elevated about sixty feet above the river or lower part of 
the city, which are distinguished as Lower and Upper Natchez. 

Upper Natchez is a beautiful place, mostly residences, churches and 
schools, and is inhabited by wealthy planters of Mississippi. 

32 



We remain at Natchez and send out scouts through the country 
to gather in cotton belonging to the Confederate government, which 
is confiscated and shipped down the river to New Orleans, there com- 
pressed and shipped by ocean steamers east, where our Uncle Sam 
makes good use of it. 



THE MERIDIAN AND GUNTOWN EXPEDITION. 

The morning of the 7th of Sept., 1863, we commenced our march 
for Meridian, Miss. We have a long and footsore march over the 
red clay hills, through pine forests, to Meridian. Guntown, and La- 
grange, where we camp for two days, I could not see the necessity 
of this expedition as we did not meet with the enemy or accomplish 
anything by the march. All we did was to wear out our shoes and 
clothes, and live on quarter rations for the entire march. 

At Lagrange we are camped in a large peach and mulberry orchard 
where the fruit was ripe and delicious, and we feast on it while we 
are there. 

The boys also discovered a distillery and a quantity of old Peach 
Brandy and MulbeiTy wine which they imbibed with most too free 
and became intoxicated and we had a merry time while it lasted and 
many were put under guard and locked up in a log cabin until fhey 
sobered off. 

We then marched back to Vicksburg, where we entered camp the 
7th of December, near old camp of May 22d, where we go into winter 
quarters. 

We have extreme cold weather through the month of December, 
1863, and three men were frozen to death on picket the 23d. 

The night of December 25th, "Christmas Eve", our Regimental 
Officers are invited to a party, just outside of our picket line. The 
boys have got the scent, and have prepared a surprise for them, for 
several yards apart they have stretched the Muscadine grape vine 
across the road, just high enough to strike their horses' knees, after 
which the boys hide in ambush to watch the fun. There was fun im- 
mense for those who were watching for it. There was language used 
that was unbecoming an officer, and I forbear to repeat it. 



33 



THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 

The morning of February 17tli, 1864, we received orders to march 
into Vicksburg and are embarked on boats for Red River. We move 
down the Mississippi to the mouth of Red River and up that stream 
to Yellow Bayou, where we land on the 12th. The 13th of March we 
advance on Fort Deruca, La., from the rear, while our fleet attacks the 
river front. We make a concerted attack and charge into the works, 
where we remain for two days, when we blow up the magazine and 
fort and again take the boats for Alexandria, La., where we disembark 
on the east side of the river the morning of March 17th. We are on 
the opposite side of the river from Alexandria and are scouting the 
country for a radius of twenty miles, on the lookout for Gen. Taylor's 
force. Have several skirmishes with guerrilla bands in sympathy with 
the South, in reality bands of cut-throats and robbers. We remain 
here until the 26th of March, when we are again embarked on boat and 
go up to Bayou Cotila, where we remain until April 2d, scouting the 
east bank of the river and surrounding country. We are living high; 
the country is rich — plenty of chicken, duck, geese and cashaw, a 
hard-shell squash which equals the Hubbard in flavor and is grown in 
the cornfields. There is also a field bean that is grown in the corn 
that is also a great relish with us; they are called field peas by the 
natives. 

The wealthy planters through Louisiana are French, and to pro- 
tect their property they have up the French flag, but the boys are 
capable of getting away with what they want. 

On April 2d we are sent up the river to Grand Ecor, from which 
point we are sent out upon a scout to Campti, and on our return we 
are embarked on boat April 5th to guard the fleet of supplies up the 
river, arriving at Loggey Bayou the 9th, where we were disembarked 
to remove the blockade. A large boat had been sunk squarely across 
the river and filled with brick and stone. Here we were busily en- 
gaged in removing the obstruction when a courier came and informed 
our colonel of Banks' defeat at Sabin Crossroads. We are hastily em- 
barked on our boat and backed down the bayou and river a distance 
of about six miles before we could turn our prow down the stream, 
as the stream was too narrow to admit of turning. We also barri- 
caded our boat with bales of cotton for breastworks, expecting the 
enemy to make an attack and try to cut us off and capture our fieet. 

On April 12th we are attacked by Gen. Greene with a force of 
2,000 rebel cavalry when at Pleasant Hill Landing. They make a des- 
perate charge to the river bank and several of their men plunge their 
horses into the river, swimming to our monitor and board it, but they 
were mistaken in their undertaking and were shot down on the deck. 
We had held our fire until they were at the water's edge, when we 

34 



poured in our volley, and the four guns, 12-pounders, on our boats fired 
forth their grapeshot, killing Gen. Greene and several hundred of his 
men, besides many wounded. 

They retreat, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. Our 
boats steam down the river as fast as possible, fearing another attack, 
as they were reforming in the distant timber for another charge. Our 
monitor remains and shells them until our fleet gets under way. Our 
regiment was the only troop in escort of the fleet, with 1st Missouri, 
Battery M. We continued our course down the river to the rapids, 
where the fleet had to remain until there was a dam built to raise the 
water before they could pass over the shoals, as the river was very 
low. 

Our regiment is sent back to our brigade and takes position in the 
center of our lines in an open sugar field, newly planted, and where the 
cane was just piercing through the ground. 

Here I will endeavor to give the reader a description of a sugar 
plantation. Our camp was on one of the largest in Louisiana, Governor 
Moore's plantation. The field that we occupy is perfectly level and 
there are two hundred acres. The seed used is the stalk, two or three 
joints laid in a furrow and covered with a plow. The row^s are six 
feet apart in drill with a continuous layer of the stalk, which puts out 
Pv sprout at each joint. This cane where it puts forth its sprout is very 
sweet, and the boys had dug out nearly the entire field and eaten it. 
The cultivation is similar to that of cotton. When the cane is mature 
it is stripped by a wood cleaver in the hand of slaves by a stroke down 
either side of the stalk, when it is allowed to stand two weeks. Then 
it is topped and cut and loaded into carts, drawn by a single mule to 
the crusher — a set of three rollers, which are of wood and are adjusted 
in a wooden frame with wooden cogs mortised in the upper ends of 
the roller, with one of the rollers projecting above, mortised into a 
large sweep that is made by selecting a tree of proper crook to extend 
down, forming an arch. This gives space for the negro to feed the 
cane in the rollers to extract the sap, which runs through a trough to 
the evaporator pans over the furnace. The crusher is turned by a 
span of mules hitched to the sweep which I have described. This ma- 
chinery is all of old, ancient and crude form, made by the slaves. 
The sugar house is a building 40x60 feet and stands on descending 
ground, with the furnace of masonry through the center and evaporat- 
ing pans six feet wide, forty long, partitioned in several divisions. 
On either side are corrugated floors, inclined to the pans. On the 
floors are barrels in which the sugar is dipped as it crystallizes, the 
barrels being perforated to drain back the syrup to the pans. This 
process is continued until the barrels are filled with crystallized sugar, 
when they are closed and shipped to New Orleans for refining. At 
the time of our camping there were fifty barrels of sugar standing on 

35 



the drips and tlie pans were full of synip, the winter's work which 
our campaign had stopped. The boys had nearly exhausted the entire 
stock and the place was in a pretty mess. Our regiment lay about 
400 yards from the sugar house and there was a constant stream going 
and coming from the house. One morning Sergeant Quigley had been 
to the house and in reaching to dig sugar out of a barrel slipped and fell 
into the pans of syrup. He was making his way back to the regiment 
when the boys spied his condition. Orval Rhodes made a run for him, 
dipping his fingers in a rake up his back, stop and lick them off, then 
he would run up and make another dip, and this comical maneuver 
made others of the company follow his example, causing a shout from 
the whole command. Quigley was called from that time on "Sweet 
Quigley." 

We remain in camp here until the fleet is floated over the rapids; 
are under the fire of the enemy every day; have thrown up pits and 
are quite well shielded, but some poor boy is taken off each day. 

April 18th, 1864, we are on the retreat from Alexandria and are 
rear guard; are under fire of the rebel cavalry, our regiment being 
deployed as skirmishers through the day. The 23d we are engaged 
by Taylor's whole army at Cane River by a flank movement on our 
right at 3 p. m., when they attempt to cut our line. We are re-enforced 
during the night, and the morning of the 24th we rout them and con- 
tinue our retreat to Bayou Chafalia, or Yellow Bayou, where they 
again attack us in force while Banks is crossing the bridge formed 
with river steamers anchored and chained together, forming a pontoon. 
Here our division are alone, as Banks has crossed with his entire 
force, leaving Smith to fight his way out or be taken prisoner. For- 
tunately we repulse them and cross the baj'ou just at dark under 
cover of the "Esic's" guns. We camp on the east side of the bayou. 
The morning of April 26th we are embarked on boats for Vicksburg. 

THE PATRIOT. 

That dear old Flag whose faintest flutter fills, 
A stirring echo in each patriot's breast. 

Can never coax to life the closed eyes 
That has its wrongs redressed, — 

That watched it waver when the fight was hot. 
And blazed with newer courage to its aid. 

Regardless of the shower of shot and shell 
Through which the cTiarge was made; 

And when at last they saw it plume its wings. 
Like some proud bird in stormy elements. 

And soar untrammeled on its wanderings. 
They close their eyes, in death content. 

36 



ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI CAMPAIGN. 

We remain at Vicksburg until tlie 1st of September, when we are 
embarked on boat and sent up the river to White River, and up that 
stream to Duval Bluffs, Arkansas, where we arrive the 4th of Sep- 
tember 1864. We disembark and are camped until September 9th 
awaiting our commissary supplies, whicH are very essential to the 
soldier, especially when in close proximity to the enemy whicH we 
were assured was the case, as Price's army was traversing tbe country 
on his raid through Arkansas and Missouri, and we are sent to tickle 
his rear and harass him as much as possible througH his march. 

The morning of September 10th we began our march, and on the 
nth we have an engagement with Price's rear guard. They tave 
struck the Iron Mountain pike and hold the right of way, while we 
have to take to the swamps and keep out of his reach as much as 
possible, striking whenever we have an opportunity to cause him any 
delay Our purpose is only to delay his progress, so that our force 
can reach the city of St. Louis ahead of him. Our first engagement is 
near Little Rock, Arkansas, where we strike his rear. In this Ag^t our 
major has his horse shot and is left on foot. He is a jovial fellow 
and is liked by all the boys. 

The second day, Ira Howard, of our company, captured a mule, 
which he found gentle and rode into camp and up to the major's quar- 
ters and presented him to the major. The next day the major was nd- 
ing mister mule with great pomp and met with a lusty cheer from 
the boys throughout the whole regiment. 

Our route is through heavy timber and swamp, as Price monop- 
olized the pikes. Our custom is to take a short rest at noon and make 
our coffee broil our bacon, eat our dinner and rest for an hour. The 
major had finished his dinner and rode his mule back to where our 
company lay; had dismounted and sat down by a large tree for a rest 
and social chat with the boys. He had been seated but a few minutes 
when he felt something warming his lower extremities, and, with a 
bound, he reached his mule and mounted. Then the fun began; the 
mule was likewise active and commenced to pitch and kick, and the 
major was thrown to the ground. Everybody got busy. The major 
had stirred up an enemy that was making the place too warm for any 
of us- he had sat down on a yellow jackets' nest, and there were 
some remarks that I will refrain from mentioning in this narrative. 

We were nineteen days making our way through to Cape Guiardo, 
Missouri, where we took boat up the river to Jefferson City, Missouri, 
where we disembarked the 24th of September; camped over until the 

next morning. . , 

September 25th, 1864, we were again following in Prices rear. 
He had preceded our force several days and had torn up the railroad 
from a few miles west of St. Louis to Jefferson City; had burned all 

37 



the bridges on "his route. Gen. Steele was in hot pursuit and had over- 
taken him at the Big Blue River near the Kansas line, where he cap- 
tured nearly all of his artillery and 400 prisoners. 

Our command went as far as California, a small place about sixty 
miles west of Jefferson City, where we were halted and were put to 
work repairing the railroad back to Jefferson City. 

When Steele arrived with his prisoners October 11th, they were 
placed in our charge and were loaded into box cars with our regiment 
as guard, forty men in a car, with the car doors open six inches and 
locked with chains, to give that space for air. Our guards were placed 
on top of the cars. 

October 12th we start with the prisoners for Jefferson City, ar- 
riving the 13th. During the night of the 12th it had turned cold and 
a light snow had fallen, making it very cold and the tops of the cars 
very slippery, and we had to clinch the narrow footboard in the center 
to keep from slipping off the tops of the cars. Our progress was very 
slow, as the road was in a very bad condition, and we were all night 
making the distance of sixty-seven miles to Jefferson City. We suf- 
fered extremely with cold. The 13th we transferred our prisoners to 
the boats and went down the river to Herman, Mo., where we disem- 
barked and again took the railroad to St. Louis, which had been re- 
paired to that place, about sixty miles out from St. Louis. 

At Herman, one of the prisoners, a spy, was shot on a high bluff 
overlooking the city and river. The prisoner was one of Marmaduke's 
band of guerrillas and was a desperate man. He had jumped from the 
boat twice into the river and attempted to escape; was handcuffed 
and chained when he made the effort. We also had Gen. Marmaduke 
and Gen. Cahill among the prisoners. At Herman we were loaded on 
open flat cars and the guards were mingled with the prisoners. We 
arrived at St. Louis the morning of October 17th, were disembarked 
and marched through the city to the Schofield barracks, where we 
turned over our prisoners and Avere marched out to Benton barracks, 
where we remained until November 23d. Here we had good quarters 
and were paid and issued new uniforms, lived high as long as our 
money lasted, and were given freedom to visit the city as long as we 
behaved properly. Some of the boys were given furloughs and visited 
their homes. This ends our campaign after Price. While at St. Louis 
we had the opportunity to vote for President, and a good half of the 
regiment used the first right to vote at the election of November 5th, 
1864. Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were the Republican 
candidates. Gen. George B. McClellan was the Democratic choice. 
Our regiment was about equally divided, and there were some hot 
political arguments among the boys. 

The time passed very pleasantly while in St. Louis, and we had 
no arduous duties to perform — nothing but ordinary camp duty. Our 

38 



stay was a necessary rest after our long march through Arkansas and 
Missouri of nearly 400 miles on half rations and through a desolate 
swamp and wilderness. 



Field of our Campaigns. 




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SIEGE AT NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. 

November 23, 1864, we embark on boat and are sent down tbe 
Mississippi River to the Ohio River, up the Ohio to the Cumberland 
River to Nashville, Tenn., where we disembark and are marched 
through the city to the extreme right of our lines, where we enter 
camp December 2d, and are put to work building fortifications. A 
few days thereafter Gen. Hood had us under siege. 

On December 15th our division is massed in solid column at the 
center of our lines in a clear, open field, and in plain sight of the 
enemy. At 3 o'clock p. m. we move forward on Hood's center under 
a heavy fire of his artillery. We charge and break his line, routing 
them, they giving way and retreating to the Franklin pike, where they 
have taken cover of a stone fence, where they rally and hold their 
ground until the following morning, the 16th. We charge them in 
their stronghold between the two stone walls, completely routing them 
and taking 400 prisoners. Then commenced the running fight, they 
on the retreat to Franklin, Tenn. Two companies of our regiment, 
Companies E and H, were sent back to Nashville with the prisoners, 
where we corralled them in a stone quarry for several days, until the 
19th, when we were drowned out by heavy rain that flooded the quarry 
and v/e had to move to the Zolicoffer House, a large hotel, which we 
turned into a prison. 

On December 20th, 1864, we are relieved by new troops, 100-day 
men, and are sent back to our regiment at Eastport, Miss,, on the 
Tennessee River, arriving on the 23d, where we remained for Christ- 
mas and until the 2d of January, 1865, awaiting boats of commissary 
stores. 

At Eastport we are put on quarter rations and are compelled to 
live on parched corn, and even had to steal the corn from the mules 
when they were fed. The country had been stripped of everything by 
both armies for two years and there was no forage. On January 1st 
two boats came up the river with supplies. They were greeted with 
cheers and were soon unloaded. Many a cracker box was smuggled into 
camp before they reached the quartermaster's tents. 

The 2d of January, 1865, our wagons are loaded and we are on the 
march to Memphis, Tenn., where we embark for Helena, Arkansas, 
which we reach on the 17th of February. We remain at Helena until 
the 1st of March, 1865, when we again embark on boats for New Or- 
leans. We arrive on the 10th, and go into camp at Chalamet, the old 
Jackson battle-ground of 1815. We are flooded out that night by a 
break of the levee, and on the 11th we march through the city to 
Lake Ponchartrain, where we embarked on boats for Dolphin Island. 
The lake is very rough and our boats are beached and we have to wade 
out through the water breast deep, the swells washing over us. We 

40 



march down the coast some distance to where the boats can make a 
landing. 

We are camped in a cypress swamp over night, re-embarking the 
12th, reaching Dolphin Island the 14th; disembark under fire of a 
rebel fort on the east side of Mobile Bay. 

Dolphin Island is midway between the mainland of the east and 
west sides of the bay at the entrance, and is a barren sandbar in the 
mouth of the bay. Here we are camped until the 2ath, the rebel bat- 
teries shelling us from the mainland on both sides of the bay. When 
the tides are out we wade out to oyster beds and gather oysters. 

On the 20th we embark and sail east to the mouth of Black River, 
near the Florida shores, go up the river 40 miles, where we disem- 
bark and march through a dense pine forest to the rear of Spanish 
FoTt, opposite Mobile, forming a line around the fort the 27th and 
engaging the enemy. On the 28th the rebel gunboats got range of our 
lines and sent in shell thick and destructive, one shell killing nine 
men in Company B. 

We moved our camp out of their range. In this camp Aide Swift 
was shot through t*he neck and was taken off the field, supposed to be 
dead, but revived when prepared for burial and was taken to the hos- 
pital. He recovered, returning to the company at Vicksburg the day 
we were mustered out of the service, a much alive boy and a great 
surprise to his brother. Captain P. H. Swift, as well as the entire 
company. His wound was a source of great benefit to him, as he was 
relieved of an impediment of speech, stuttering, of which he was en- 
tirely cured. 

We besieged the fort until the 8th of April, when we made a 
charge at midnight into their works, to find it evacuated except for 
a small line of pickets, whom we took prisoners. Fort Blackly, a 
twin fort 4 miles up the bay, was also taken tlie same night. 

The 10th of April Mobile surrendered and our fleet ran the block- 
ade and chased Admiral Sims up the Tombigby River, where they had 
destroyed their fleet and taken to the woods. The 12th of April there 
was great rejoicing in our camp, as we had just heard of the capture 
of Richmond and Petersburg, Lee and JoTinson on the run, with Grant 
in hot pursuit. It was with cTieerful hearts and buoyant spirits we re- 
ceived orders on parade the evening of the 12th to be ready to march 
in the morning on to Montgomery, Alabama. 

The morning of the 13th of April, 1865, we were on the march to 
Montgomery, Alabama. Our route was through heavy pine forests for 
two days, when we entered an open farming country rich with forage, 
and we were living on the bounty of the land— watermelon and roast- 
ing ears. The third day's march a negro came to my mess and told 
me of an old planter who had secreted a lot of meats, hams and bacon, 



41 



in his cornfield. Freeman and I, accompanied by fhe negro, went in 
search of the meat, which we found buried in the cornfield between 
the rows. They had dug a pit about twelve feet long and two feet 
wide and cased with boards three feet deep, which was filled with 
fine hams and side meat, packed in ashes and straw, covered with 
boards and earth, which they had cultivated over in plowing the corn. 
We were afraid that it might spoil if left there, so we helped ourselves 
to as much as we could carry and hurried back to camp, and others 
of the boys were soon on our trail and the box was soon empty. 

On the 16th of April we met some paroled prisoners on their way 
home, who gave us the first news of General Lee's surrender to Gen- 
eral Grant. The air was rent with cheers, hats were thrown up, with 
a shout from every throat, and our band strikes up with "Home, Sweet 
Home," and "The Girl I Left Behind Me." 

The following day we entered the small town of Enterprise, where 
we captured a printing office that had one side of a four-column four- 
page folder printed with rebel news and the news of Abraham Lin- 
coln's assassination. This was very sad news to us and we could 
hardly believe it to be true until it was confirmed by our own papers 
a few days later, when we arrived at Montgomery on the 23d of April. 

ODE ON THE DEATH OF LINCOLN. 

What means that solemn dirge I hear? 
What means those mournful sounds? 
Why toll the bells the awful knell of fate? 
Ah I why those sighs that do my fancy sate? 

Where'er 1 turn the general gloom appears; 
Those mournful badges fill my soul with tears. 
Hark! — yonder rueful noise! — 'tis done! 'tis done! — 
The silent tomb enshrouds our Lincoln! 

Must virtues exalted, yield their breath? 
Must bright perfection find relief in death? 
Must mortal greatness fall! — a glorious name! — 
By the vile assassin's treacherous hand? 

The august chief, the father and the friend, — 
The generous patriot — the humane man; 
The People's glory, America's pride. 
There lies enshrin'd our immortalized Lincoln! 

We remained at Montgomery awaiting our transports with com- 
missary supplies. We found the place evacuated and a general gloom 
over the citizens. We found a large quantity of Confederate paper 

42 



money at the court-house there — "A promise to pay after the ratifica- 
tion of a treaty of peace" — which the boys used to gamble with, and 
the stakes were often up into fhe thousands. 

On the 30th our fleet arrived and to us were issued new clothes, 
rations and ammunition, and we were ordered to be ready to march 
the morning of the 1st of May to Tuskegee, Alabama, 40 miles south- 
west of Montgomery on the Tombigby River, where we arrived the 
evening of the third. At Tuskegee we enter into provost duty of the 
city and patrolled the country to quiet disturbances between the 
planters and the negroes, a. duty of reconstruction between the planter 
and their former slaves. I was sent out the first week 12 miles from 
the city en a duty of straightening out a difficulty with the negroes. 
They entertained the idea that they were to possess the lands of their 
former master and were about to dispossess him, and wben I at- 
tempted to reason with them they accused me of being an imposter 
and not "Massa Lincoln man", as they termed it, and I had to resort 
to my rifle for protection and arrest the leader and take him to head- 
quarters. We had daily calls to quiet such troubles while we remained 
at Tuskegee We remained at Tuskegee, Alabama, doing provost duty 
tbe remainder of our service. We had gained the good will of the 
citizens and were treated cordially by them. 

There were a great many of the Confederate soldiers returning to 
their homes there and they were very friendly and glad that the cruel 
war was over. We had organized an opera club, which was made up of 
both sides, Yank and Reb, and had plays every week. A great many 
of our boys were smitten by the Southern belles and I feared they would 
forget the girls they left behind in old Wisconsin. 

Time passed on, gay and festive, with social parties at the resi- 
dences nearly every day while we remained at Tuskegee. We carried 
no arms, except when on duty, and there was no sign of military strife. 
The Blue and the Gray were mingled as one common brotherhood with 
a congenial, friendly spirit. 

The morning of the 23d of July, 1S65, we received orders to march 
to Montgomery to embark for Vicksburg, where we arrived the 31st. 
We entered camp in the city, turned over our arms and were mustered 
out of the service on the 9th day of August. 1865. We were paid and 
embarked for "Home, Sweet Home," on boat to Cairo, by rail from 
Cairo to Madison, Wis., where we arrived the 16th of August and were 
disbanded to go at will to our several homes. 

At Madison we were greeted by parents, wives and sweethearts 
with a joyous greeting, mingled with tears of joy and happiness. But 
there were also sad recollections brought vividly to mind. There were 
mothers draped with mourning also there to meet us, broken down 
with grief, with the question unspoken, "Where is my boy?" "Where 
did you leave my boy?" 



There had many a poor boy been left on a southern field, with 
mothers mourning their demise, and the question was hard to answer 
and brought forth many a sympathetic tear from those who were for- 
tunate to return uninjured. Brother Hiram and I reached home the 
evening of the 17th of August and took our parents completely by sur- 
prise, as we had not written them any news of our coming, and we 
preceded the published news, as our regiment had reached Madison 
without forewarning the state of our coming. 

Joyous was our meeting and many a fond embrace by mother, over- 
joyed by the safe return of her two boys. There was also a brother and 
three sisters there to welcome us home and admire our bright blue 
uniforms and brass buttons. Emma, a little tot of two years, was most 
especially pleased with the bright brass buttons, and many an amusing 
question was asked. That evening the whole family knelt around the 
family altar, father, mother, three brothers and three sisters, overjoyed 
with thanksgiving to the Supreme Creator who had spared us all to 
meet again. 



Fold up the banners! Smelt the guns! 
Love rules. Her gentler purpose runs. 
A mighty nation turns in tears 
The pages of her battle years, 
Lamenting all her fallen sons. 

W. H. Thompson. 



THE AMERICAN FLAG. . 
Composed by A. J. Robinson, Nov. 21, 1909, Portland, Oregon. 

Unfurl our banner, keep it waving, 
Ever keep it proudly waving. 
For our forefathers truly saved it 
From the trample of the foe. 
Ever keep it floating proudly 
Before the nations of the world, 
For it was our forefathers' symbol 
That made old England tremble 
In the days of seventy-six. 

Unfurl our banner, keep it waving 

Over the land that gave it birth. 

Let no nation dare assail it. 

From the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, 

In the days so dark and gloomy, 

We marched forth six hundred thousand 

To protect and save its honor 

From the thraldom of its foe. 

Guard and protect its freedom evermore. 

Unfurl our banner, keep it waving. 
Keep it proudly to the breeze; 
Let it float from every flagstaff, 
Let it float from every dome; 
Throughout our broad expanse of country 
Let "Old Glory" proudly wave. 
We the boys of the past sixties 
Gallantly protected it through the past; 
Let no traitor dare insult its folds. 

Unfurl our banner, keep it waving, 
Freedom and right shall ever rule. 
We are now one united people, 
No despot dare tread on our shores. 
The example at Havana harbor, 
By the treachery of Old Spain, 
When she sank our ship in slumber. 
On a peaceful mission sent. 
Americans never forget the Maine. 



45 



Unfurl our banner, keep it waving; 
Now, it's up to you, young men, 
To protect and shield its glory 
Through the strife of coming years. 
Let no despot dare insult it 
Throughout our country's broad domain. 
Keep a watchful vigilance o'er it; 
Shield and protect o'er sea and land; 
We now pass it to your strong arms. 

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. 

Furl that Banner, for 'tis weary. 
Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary; 

Furl it, fold it, — it is best; 
For there's not a man to wave it. 
And there's not a sword to save it, 
And there's not one left to lave it 
In the blood which heroes gave it, 
And its foes now scorn and brave it; 

Furl it, hide it, — let it rest! 
Take that Banner down! 'tis tattered; 
Broken is its shaft and shattered. 
And the valiant foes are scattered, 

Over whom it floated high. 
Oh, 'tis hard for us to fold it. 
Hard to think there's none to hold it, 
Hard that those who once unrolled it 

Now must furl U with a sigh! 
Furl that Banner — furl it sadly; 
Once ten thousand hailed it gladly; 
And ten thousand wildly, madly, 

Swore it should forever wave — 
Swore that foemen's swords could never 
Hearts like theirs entwined dissever. 
And that flag should float forever 

O'er their freedom or their grave! 
Furl it! For the hands that grasped it, 
, And the hearts that fondly clasped it. 

Cold and dead are lying low; 
And the Banner — it is trailing, 
While around it sounds are wailing 

Of its people in their woe; 
For though conquered they adore it. 
Love the cold dead hands that bore it, 



46 



Weep for those who fell before it, 
Pardon those who trailed and tore it; 
And oh. wildly they deplore it, 

Now to furl and fold it so! 
Furl that Banner! True, 'tis gory, 
Yet 'tis wreathed around with glory, 
And 'twill live in song and story 

Though its folds are in the dust! 
For its fame on brightest pages, 
Penned by poets and by sages. 
Shall go sounding down the ages — 

Furl its folds though now we must! 
Furl that Banner, softly, slowly; 
Treat it gently— it is holy 

For it droops above the dead; 
Touch it not— unfold it never; 
Let it droop there furled forever — 

For its people's hopes are fled. 

—FATHER RIAN 



47 



6\) lyi^ 



JACOB SNYDER, THE TRAMP. 'n^ 



By A. J. Robinson, Co. E, 33d Wis. Vol. Inf. 

Mine name vos Jacob Snyder, 

By eighteen sixty-two, 
Und I goes imd fight mit A. J. Smith 

So good as 1 can do. 
I lifed by der Visconsin state, 

Vere grows der Milwaukee beer, 
Und wood makes full timber trees, 

Und bears und porky-pine and deer; 
Dere's huckleberry bushes, too. 

Und schnow most all der year. 
Ven dose gruel war vos ober 

By eighteen sixty-five, 
I scoots me off mit Texas stade, 

Und makes me much to thrive; 
I gives dose peoples somedings else. 

As vot dey gets pefore. 
I sells them medisons and drugs, 

Und paints, und glue, und hellebore; 
Und prints von leedle newspaper, 

Besides dot doctor store. 
Und now I goes me all about. 

Comes eighteen ninety one. 
I climbs dese Rocky Mountains 

Und sees me Voshington; 
I goes me Callervorny bye 

Und opp dose Oregon. 
I meets much peoples everywhere 

So far I goes those roads along — 
Blendy Chickens, Rabbits, Ducks, 

Und Fishes all er along. 
Und now bes I must ouscospled 

Comes nineteen hundred and eight. 
I scoots me oud der Eastern stades — 

Mine old Visconsin home, 
Und visits mit mine kinderfolks, 

Und stay mit dem der vinter. 
I visits mit der peoples roundt, 

Und have much fun mit kinder, 
Und travels all der country roundt, 

Und sells mine leedle book. 



48 






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